SAN BEDA CHURCH: The Abbey, The Riots, The Old Rich

A week after I visited a monastery run by Benedictine Monks down South, I was reminded of my Visita Iglesia back in April earlier this year. Among the 7 churches and chapels I visited, the most striking in my book was the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat, more popularly called San Beda Chapel. It is a gem waiting to be discovered and rediscovered…… in an area more remembered as the posh San Miguel district in Manila where the moneyed and high society used to lead elegant lifestyles by the banks of the then clean, oil spill-free Pasig River. Quite ironically, it is also known of late as the Mendiola site that bore witness to way too many rallies, even bloody protests, as rallyists marched towards Malacañang.

Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat

This neo-Gothic Chapel was designed by a Swedish architect by the name of George Asp. It would have looked even lovelier when it was consecrated in 1925, with those Sistine Chapel-like ceilings painted by artist-monk Fr. Lesmes Lopez, a Benedictine Monk. Awesome is an overused word, but yes, it is indeed awesome!

You would have thought you’re somewhere in Europe. But naah, this is the San Beda Chapel right in Mendiola!

The stars in the galaxy must have conspired to spare this magnificent church from the destruction of the Second World War. Just a block away from Malacañan Palace by the Pasig River, both structures survived the carpet bombing during the Battle of Manila. Many of its historic counterparts in Intramuros were not as lucky. It surprises me though that not too many are even aware of the striking beauty of this college chapel. One look at the painting of the Apotheosis of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, the retablo and many bronze angels holding lamps to illumine the chapel in a “Rennaissance” kind of way, and you’re transported out of the slums, dirt, grime, chaos of Manila. I can imagine the old rich and elite hearing Sunday masses in this lovely college chapel back then. Can you?

It is NOT a first time for us. Time and again we'd set off for the love of..... FOOD. in this case OYSTERS. AND MANGOES. You see I grew up in a place where oyster farming was a family business. Many weekends were spent visiting old folks armed with a p

I started this year 2014 choking on my doce uvas 12 grapes as the clock in Puerta del Sol Madrid struck 12. Lots of merriment with a thick crowd gathered around this landmark sharing booze as spirits literally and figuratively ran high. My f

We snagged another great airfare deal with this ManilaDumaguete CityManila trip last June. Me and my 3 travel buddies. With lots of help from a young travel blogger we likewise booked rooms in a boutique hotel and island hopping tours while basing ou

Back again down under. This time under better circumstances. Surprise Surprise Pulled a major one on my sister the only remaining member of my original immediate family who turned 70 last April 27. Yes the same and only sister I

Spending Christmas in Madrid There is much to explore to discover and to enjoy while homebased in the capital. Homebased In MadridI should get a prize for visiting so many belens Nativity Scenes and riding on the Navidad Bus